NCJ Number
146625
Journal
American School Board Journal Volume: 180 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 39-42
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A program implemented in the Cleveland (Ohio) public schools is aimed at eliminating youth gangs from the schools.
Abstract
The program has also improved the district's public image by collecting information on youth gangs and presenting it and the school board's strategies to parents, the community, and the news media. School policies should include written student handbooks, staff training in gang prevention at both the building and district level, the development of community-wide strategies, and methods for dealing with the news media. Groups of students should be considered gangs when their collective behavior becomes disruptive, antisocial, or criminal. While a dress code is an important part of an overall antigang effort, it must be general enough to adjust to the fluid nature of gang activity. A policy, which must be checked for legal soundness, should address all appearances that are detrimental to the educational environment. The student handbook must outline responsibilities and rules for students and the consequences of failing to meet those expectations. Staff training should cover gang identifiers, the motivations for joining gangs, prevention strategies, and means of teaching about nonviolent conflict resolution methods. In some situations, the school board might need to consult specialists to deal exclusively with gang-related issues.